Booker High teacher placed on leave amid investigation

Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 1:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 1:06 p.m.

SARASOTA - A Booker High science teacher is on paid administrative leave because of an ongoing police investigation.

Doug O'Connell went on leave April 15 after a student made allegations against him, said Principal Rachel Shelley, who declined to give more details to protect the student's privacy and because of the ongoing Sarasota Police Department investigation.

Shelley heard the complaint against O'Connell on April 12 and notified authorities the same day.

"I always have to err on the side of caution," she said, adding she did not want to rush to judgment against O'Connell. "Safety and security is my first and primary concern."

O'Connell, 43, is now working in the human resources office at the school district's headquarters, which is not unusual when an employee is on paid leave.

It is not the first time school officials have questioned O'Connell's behavior.

Officials were concerned about an "inappropriate" comment O'Connell made to a student on Facebook. Edwina Oliver, then a Booker assistant principal, spoke with O'Connell about his expectations, according to a March 24, 2010 memo in his personnel file.

O'Connell's punishment was a verbal reprimand.

Sarasota County schools sent the latest complaint to the state's Office of Professional Practices, which has the power to revoke a teacher's license.

"The investigation into allegations against Douglas Steven O'Connell has been assigned to a staff member who will be in contact with district or school staff in the near future," said an April 30 letter from Florida Department of Education to Sarasota schools.

The office's records are public documents once the state determines if there is probable cause.

O'Connell, who is paid $63,015 annually, has worked for the district since August 2001. He took a leave of absence from 2004-2006 to work as the dean of students at the Student Leadership Academy, a new charter school in Venice.

Back at Booker, a long-term substitute is handling O'Connell's teaching duties.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - A Booker High science teacher is on paid administrative leave because of an ongoing police investigation.</p><p>Doug O'Connell went on leave April 15 after a student made allegations against him, said Principal Rachel Shelley, who declined to give more details to protect the student's privacy and because of the ongoing Sarasota Police Department investigation.</p><p>Shelley heard the complaint against O'Connell on April 12 and notified authorities the same day.</p><p>"I always have to err on the side of caution," she said, adding she did not want to rush to judgment against O'Connell. "Safety and security is my first and primary concern."</p><p>O'Connell, 43, is now working in the human resources office at the school district's headquarters, which is not unusual when an employee is on paid leave.</p><p>It is not the first time school officials have questioned O'Connell's behavior.</p><p>Officials were concerned about an "inappropriate" comment O'Connell made to a student on Facebook. Edwina Oliver, then a Booker assistant principal, spoke with O'Connell about his expectations, according to a March 24, 2010 memo in his personnel file.</p><p>O'Connell's punishment was a verbal reprimand.</p><p>Sarasota County schools sent the latest complaint to the state's Office of Professional Practices, which has the power to revoke a teacher's license.</p><p>"The investigation into allegations against Douglas Steven O'Connell has been assigned to a staff member who will be in contact with district or school staff in the near future," said an April 30 letter from Florida Department of Education to Sarasota schools.</p><p>Florida DOE spokeswoman Cheryl Etters declined to comment on the case Wednesday.</p><p>The office's records are public documents once the state determines if there is probable cause.</p><p>O'Connell, who is paid $63,015 annually, has worked for the district since August 2001. He took a leave of absence from 2004-2006 to work as the dean of students at the Student Leadership Academy, a new charter school in Venice.</p><p>Back at Booker, a long-term substitute is handling O'Connell's teaching duties.</p><p>"We want to make sure education continues," Shelley said.</p><p>O'Connell's attorney Nevin Weiner declined to comment Wednesday.</p>